Best Restaurants Open for Newyears Eve this year in Norfolk – 2024

I had a rough week at work so I treated myself to dinner at Varia. This is my second time going there and it definitely did not disappoint! I had the fried ravioli, the rigatoni in vodka sauce, and dessert which was an apple crumble pie. The waiter Harrison was kind, had a great personality, checked in while also giving me time to enjoy the meal, and he helped make the experience more memorable. Thanks to the awesome staff! I loved my solo date night there.

Food was absolutely delish, my server Reece gave me great recommendations! He knew the menu well. That octopus was out of this world! Reece was very attentive and not overbearing at all. I would 100% recommend and if you are lucky, request for Reece to be your server!

This is a great spot to go for Italian. Very affordable and the ambiance is unmatched. Service has been impeccable and we even came two nights in a row. Shout out to Connor, our waiter, great recommendations and service at all times! Love this place and highly recommend!

Our visit to Torch started off a bit rough as they have a “seat yourself” sign. We sat out on the patio however, none of the staff realized we had walked in so we waited for about 20 minutes before I went to grab someone. Other than this we had a good time with great food. They have great fries and an interesting menu. Their patio area with the fire pit is amazing and I would love to come back and have a few drinks on a warm summer night.

Another fall from grace. The first time I dined at Torch it was excellent. So good that I decided it would be a good idea to bring my family from out of town. Well the food was still ok when we finally got it. I realize we were a big group but it should not take 40 minutes to bring out chicken tenders and a plain burger for kids. It’s hard to enjoy your meal when you have hungry kids at your table. By the time we all got to eat our food it was too cold to enjoy. Finally I should not have to leave my table to ask the wait staff to finally get my check. This place is not kid friendly and unfortunately we will not dine here again. Last but not least, the collection of cigarette butts by the front door did not help my promise to my family that “it was good the last time I was here”.

Nice, little quaint restaurant tucked in the Chelsea business district of Norfolk. Nice patio w/firepits & picnic tables, great happy hr, food is good & service was friendly. I had the Cuban sandwich (not authentic but it's not advertised as such in all fairness) & fries.. the fries were served fresh & hot. The sandwich was good. Definitely will revisit this place to try their other dishes.

We passed up this restaurant on our first night but walked it back for brunch. We absolutely loved it. I hate I can't remember our waitress' name but she was originally from New York, but didn't have the accent. We adored her personality and she was so welcoming and conversational. Kudos to her she made our dining experience even better. Management: If you know who this is, tell her she's awesome and give her props!!

9/1/2024 - I saw a sign outside saying apothecary drinks which drew me in to try some drinks. My friend had already been there once and got the espresso martini. I ordered the apricot sour. It was really good. The drinks are fancy so expect a bit more pricey. They were pretty busy and only serving drinks or raw bar when we got there. Bar tender was still good with taking care of us. I loved the scenery of the place. I would love to come back and try some more drinks and maybe even the food.

Elle provided us with excellent service throughout the meal. She was attentive when taking our order, making sure it was correct, was there when we needed her without being intrusive. Made us feel welcome and chatted with us when time allowed. All together and excellent experience. I really enjoyed the oyster stew which is exceptionally hard to find, especially one that is thickened with oysters and not flour!

Food was great, but expect a chilly reception. We called to make a 5pm dinner reservation and they only had their "heated outdoor dining" area available. The employee on the phone suggested we make a reservation there since the entire indoor dining area was already booked up through 7:30pm. We get there and are the only customers. They asked for my reservation name, I gave it. Host couldn't find our reservation. I mentioned we were eating outside and he was like oh ok and escorted us out there. The temperature outside was 45°. The "indoor tent area" with two TINY space heaters did not get above 50°. I asked in the beginning if any inside tables happened to open up and was very shortly told no. We sat outside. Freezing the entire duration. My party and I went in separately twice to use facilities and half the tables remained open. The whole time we were sitting outside there were tables inside that consistently remained empty. Hospitality was non existent. Food was good, for the brief it stayed warm. We weren't able to finish most of it because it chilled so fast.

Stopped in Omar’s on a Sunday 9/29 around 11am. It was surprisingly slow paced for the time of day. We were the only customers inside the dining room (other patrons were on the patio). Our waitress was friendly and answered all of our questions. Unfortunately, during the meal we were able to overhear staff carry on personal conversations which was not ideal (bordering unprofessional behavior with customers around). I ordered chicken & waffles, my boyfriend ordered a hot chicken sandwich (can’t recall the actual menu name for it) and we also shared an order of strawberry donuts. Everything was really good and came out in a timely manner. I wish we had tried this place on a busier morning to really tell the difference in service and quality. Atmosphere is a 3 ⭐️ due to the decor being kind of dated & the staffs lack of discretion during our experience.

Update... we went for burger night. So so good. I like truffle fries... My husband doesn't so they made plain fries. Burger was cooked beautifully and was the star of the show. Not overwhelmed by accoutrement. Previous review: I was surprised that my husband chose this place for brunch because it presents as middle eastern which is not his fav cuisine.... Much to my surprise it was eclectic which some mideast and some French... And some Latin... He has bruleed French toast and said it may have been the best breakfast ever. I had huevos rancheros which was served in a traditional tangine... Which was a surprise. The carne was tender and scrumptious. Good week night specials... We are headed back Wednesday to check the burgers. Lovely coherent atmosphere. What took us so long?!?!?

This place was very very nice inside. From the walk in the hostess was very nice as well. The ambiance was also great too. The server was very attentive and also very knowledgeable of the menu. The corn bread muffins tasted like they were freshly made once we sat down. The food was also great and the presentation was even better. To be off in the cut off of granby Street this place is definitely one that needs to be visited. Great great place very good selection on the menu as well.

The smoked clams were the star! The oysters were also delicious and so so fresh (we got both kinds). We also had the Halibut, Red Snapper, Crab Cake, Shrimp and Grits. Drinks /cocktails were well made. There was a limited children’s menu - 3 items - pasta with buttered Parmesan cheese, chicken fingers with french fries, and fried shrimp. The desserts are made in house and very delicious. Service was excellent and for the atmosphere, cool place the ceiling was translucent and you could see the people walking above. It was a little dark and hard to read the menu. We were a table of 5 people and will return again. Thanks for a wonderful night out!

This this restaurant was very relaxing. It’s definitely a date night places to just chill and nice music and the food was absolutely amazing. Every piece was so great. The waiter was very nice and the bartender downstairs Brandon was really great fun and he made great drinks. I had catfish was delicious and yes, it was a little crispy, but it very delicious. the I’m Alma grits just melting in your mouth, true grits. Oysters were very fresh and salad was delicious.

⭐Intimate atmosphere perfect for a date night or an impressive business meeting. Delicious specials!!⭐ I've been here a few times now and the service is always exceptional. The thing that really makes this restaurant a stand-out is the consideration they have for all of their customers. The food is good! Though, some dishes outshine others considerably. The entire place is beautiful and the prices are completely fair. Try the salmon or the potato leek soup! :)

Amazing food and experience. First, they served us hot bread with homemade cheese and an apple. Delicious and unique. We ordered the lentil soup and the potato and leek soup. They were incredible. Especially with it being cooler outside, they came out piping hot and we’re hearty and delicious. We ordered for our entrees the Serbian Goulash and a chicken special with a creamy delicious sauce. The customer service there is outstanding. They make you feel so at home and are so attentive. The chef brought out some delicious veal for us to try too. She is so friendly and from Czechoslovakia. I loved the atmosphere too. It is intimate and romantic. Highly recommend! Must try!

Authentic and delicious. An absolute must to try if you're in the Norfolk area, this place was the highlight of my trip here! Service was incredible, and the food was superb. I heartily recommend the goulash (any variation) and the escargot. The roast duckling was also delicious, with plenty to bring home! It was my first time having this kind of food and the lovely waitress took the time to explain to us what the dishes consist of and how to eat them. Couldn't have had a better experience, will definitely come back the next time I'm in town!

A must stop everytime I am in Norfolk. The food is great and fresh. Service is great. Drinks and wine selection is always on point. The scallops are my favorite.

Wanted a place that has great drinks, intimate atmosphere, and great food for a 1st date. This restaurant delivered! Had a great seat at the bar - reservations required, this place gets busy - watching the fantastic kitchen crew. Great drinks, great food, great atmosphere! Had the gamberi in crema al limone (wonderful) and cinghiale pasta (great as well)!

I had THE BEST ITALIAN FOOD EVER at this place. Accustomed with the North End in Boston which has some of the best Italian restaurants in one little street, I can be very picky with Italian food. But Luce’s food is better than any italian restaurant I’ve ever had! Service was excellent, the chef came to our table and answered some questions we had, the waitress was friendly and helpful. Almost feel like hopping on a plane to go to Norfolk every weekend just for that food. I highly recommend this place!

We were 21 people in town for a conference and they were able to accommodate us. Our sit down took a total of almost 3 hours, but when the food came out, it was delicious and well worth it. We didn't mind because we were all catching up with our work colleagues. I had the pork chops and it was outstanding.

I loved this place so much!! I chose to dine here for my birthday dinner a month ago and was very pleased with my experience! My party and I sat outside in the back which was beautiful The service here was great as well! Prior to receiving dinner, we were provided with bread that tasted so fresh and good along with a dipping sauce. Loved it! I ordered the shrimp pesto and it was absolutely amazing. The portion sizes were very good and the prices were reasonable. Well worth it! I'd definitely recommend dining here! I will be returning to try other dishes! BTW, they have a lot of vegan options!!!

Lovely rooftop dining with made-from-scratch pasta that is flavorful and well-appointed! Bread and herb butter was delivered to the table prior to the main course. Our service was excellent and the vibe was chill and relaxing. We were able to choose our own table once on the rooftop. We had great views and enjoyed people watching! We chose the sausage & mushrooms gnocchi and the sausage & broccolini orecchiette (pictured) for our meals and shared a bottle of Chianti. The only reason I gave 4 stars is because I’d love to see a bit more variety of pasta dishes offered. I will be returning though as it looks like the menus change (possibly seasonally) and I’m excited to try more fresh pasta! They also had protein mains and an equal amount of vegan mains. There’s something for everyone! Lastly, parking is free in a dedicated lot across the street with a parking attendant present. Highly recommend.

We came here after seeing a show at the NorVA. There's a handful of places open downtown after 12am and this is what we picked. I think they were under the assumption this was going to be some Gordon Ramsey type restaurant, in Norfolk, VA for whatever reason. I told them that was t the case, but they still looked perturbed when we arrived. They made me walk all the way down here, complaining how far away it was(5min walk good lawd) past all the other open establishments I suggest we stop at so I opened the door and pushed them in. Not upscale in the least and frankly I'm glad it wasn't. Honestly it seemed like they didn't want to seat more people, but as more groups showed up after the show I think they realized there was no early leaving that night. Regardless of how we initially felt, the vibes quickly changed when the server came. She made it an experience and had us laughing and joking together. The food was pretty good and we all enjoyed what we ordered. I had the crab nachos which were on point. Yes there was actual crab on them and not just cheese and old bay seasoning. I also had a Snoopy D-O-GG, which was ok. Too sweet for my preference, but I knew that when I ordered and sucked it down anyway. We also got some wings, lemon pepper and buffalo Parmesan. I'm not a fan of lemon pepper, another reason me and ATL don't get along, and the Parmesan wings weren't my favorite either. The wings were cooked well though. There was fries(chips) and some kind of egg rolls I don't really remember. Several items that we initially tried to order they were out of, which was kind of annoying. Sarah, aka Toalla smoothed all that over though. By the end we were all smiles and satisfied, calling each other by our new Spanish names. Others that arrived after us seemed to be equally enjoying themselves. They even broke out a console and were playing Tekken at the bar! Much better vibes than if we were at the actual Hell's Kitchen.

The atmosphere here is very cozy. The staff was so polite and patient and the food was delicious We got "hell" and spicy parm wings and the 14oz ribeye w/ 2 sides. Both dishes were awesome!

Our server was very helpful, and nice the food was delicious atmosphere was great, they did have a new cook, yeah that part, but over all everything was great. Thank yall

The food was absolutely amazing! It was such a beautiful and flavorful culinary experience. The service was outstanding, and our server was incredibly attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. I can’t wait to come back and try more dishes. Everything was not only delicious but also beautifully presented—truly exceeded all expectations!

Our server was a delight, and the food was perfect. I tried the butratta salad and butternut squash soup. I was extra pleased to have a yummy mocktail option on the menu. I wish we lived closer. I'd like to go back and hang out more. The vibe was fun and relaxed, and there were a lot of great people hanging out at the bar.

Best of the best Everytime I come. Top tier service and ambiance. It’s cozy for a party of one or 6. My favorite dish being the crispy octopus. It’s a small plate but just enough to enjoy with a glass of wine for a light dinner.

We came in for Brunch, I’ve had dinner here a couple times and always enjoyed a good meal, wanted my wife to experience the atmosphere and history of the building. Brunch was good, wife had the ‘all-American brkfst’ and I had the western skillet. Eggs could have used some seasoning. Coffee was quite bitter. Everything else was quite good, the service was attentive and on time. The atmosphere was (of course) awesome…we love when an historic location is given new life. It reminded me very much of our time in Europe.

This place is a true local gem, and if you're visiting Norfolk, it's definitely worth checking out. Located in the heart of Historic Norfolk, it's within easy walking distance to several historic sites and homes— you can even see the Allman-Archer House from their parking lot, and the Hunter House is just around the corner. The food is usually tasty, hot, and reasonably priced. While the service can slow down a bit when they’re busy, that’s to be expected. We particularly enjoy Sunday Brunch here whenever we can. Whether you're visiting the area or a local who hasn't been in a while, this is a spot you shouldn't miss. Definitely worth a visit!

I’m new to the area so I’ve been seeking out well reviewed restaurants to try. As award winning and long run as this establishment may be, I’m not sure I’ll be returning. I dined solo so I sat at the bar. I ordered their version of an Old Fashioned which was ok. For food I almost always go with the staff recommendation and this was no exception. I started with their she crab soup which was good, plenty of crab in a heavy cream base. The cup is $9 and the bowl is $10. There’s clearly some price per oz disparity here but I get it. It’s “award winning”. The other recommendation was the Seafood Fantasia, which is a shrimp and scallop linguine which in my experience is generally a lighter dish, but they fail to mention that the main ingredient is cheese. It should really be renamed to “Cheese Pasta w/ Seafood”. I couldn’t finish it. The combination of the heavy cream soup and the cheese pasta has me feeling sick and in dire need of some fiber. The venue is cool, the staff and service were good but the recommendations are going to have me questioning my existence in a few hours.

Service, Atmosphere was great, the drink deals were great tok however the food looked nice but tasted mediocre at best. We spent $119 and enjoyed almost no food. The calamari was slightly rubbery and the crust was falling off. The crab cakes were just mushy and nasty and the creole dish was tasteless beans, rice and mid sea food. Come for drinks not food

Captain Groovy's offered a fun and laid-back atmosphere for our first visit. The service was excellent, attentive and friendly. However, parking can be a challenge due to the limited lot that fills quickly. The food was a mixed bag. The oysters were fresh and delicious, but some of the other dishes lacked flavor and seemed a bit bland. While the restaurant wasn't crowded, our food took a while to arrive, which could be due to potential staffing issues. Overall, it was a decent experience, but the food could be improved to match the great service and atmosphere.

What a dinner! Absolute Home Run for our entire party. We had seafood creole, crab cakes, oysters rock and mussels. Everything outstanding. The service was great. The owner stopped by the table and we chatted about wrestling and Penn State. I couldn't have been happier with this place, dinner and experience!

This establishment opened at 4pm. As we sat in the parking lot waiting and anticipating how this food we imagined would satisfy our dreams. Our host was very warm and seemed confident. She suggested drinks for us and took our orders and hurried away to get the drinks. The white wine spritzer was good. The rum pink lemonade was good also. I'm not a drinker but tasted both cocktails. Our appetizers came by this time and the fried oysters were outstanding! We anticipated the main course would knock us off our chairs! However, they dropped the ball from here on out! When our orders came, I ordered crab and tomatoes soup. (All I tasted was tomato. You could see the crab but not taste the crab. The shrimp and grits didn't stand up for me either. The grits were presented with the 4 shrimp on top. After I moved the shrimp the grits looked like a square hash brown and had no taste. Not one of my favorites. However, the shrimps were cooked excellently! I did enjoy those. When the entree came, I ordered 2 crab cakes with garlic green beans and cole slaw. The order was mixed up my friend ordered the surf & turf. But I got her mashed potatoes and she got my coleslaw. When the mixup was corrected. The crab cakes were good as well as the cole slaw. The green beans were too salty! We asked for crab legs that when she brought them out to us, they looked like they had been in a fight, and lost! We sent those back. No thanks. I would eat there again, but only after I communicated with the cook directly.

The food selections were flavorful. The atmosphere was chill we sat outside on the patio and our waiter was super attentive.

Such a cute little spot with a great seafood menu. I had a couple appetizers and the fish sandwich, and all the food was excellent. My friend and I each had a specialty cocktail and they were very well made and worth the price. The people behind us were very vocal about how good their food was too!

It was our first time, we enjoyed our visit! Took my family for Sunday dinner, delicious food from appetizers to dessert. Our server took very good care of us and made it a memorable dining experience. We will return !

Ambiance is wonderful. 4 stars. Service 2.5 stars, it was great until we got seated, our waitress didn’t check up on us nor did she refill our water unless asked several times. Water flowing on booth dividers, great place for romantic dinners and ladies’ night out. My friends liked their calamari and salad order. My salmon order wasn’t what I’d expect: salmon was dry, yes I ordered medium well but I’ve been to plenty of restaurants where medium well was still juicy. The risotto wasn’t smooth and creamy, it was coarse and grainy.

Food was excellent! Fresh, well seasoned and our server knew the menu items. Clean and nice location with its own small parking lot. I only wish they had filtered water. A 32 ounce bottle was $6.00 and enough for 2. I dined with 456 Fish on my birthday 10 years ago and I will make a plan for my December birthday because they do not disappoint.